PARRAMATTA ANZACS, 25 APRIL – 19 DEC 1915

On the 25 April the Allied assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey began under the guidance of the Commander in Chief, Sir Ian Hamilton. The landing was divided into three assaults; the main one at the tip of the peninsula involved the British troops, a second was on the southern side of the entry to the Dardanelles and involved French and French Colonial troops.

The last assault was made further up the coast up by men from Australia and New Zealand along with a small force from the Indian Mounted Batteries.

The plan had been hurriedly developed in the wake of the failure of the British Navy to clear Dardenelles on the 18 March and the task of raising, training, and supplying the assault force had removed any element of surprise.

The Turks were waiting and prepared even if they were not sure exactly where the blows would land. Hamilton himself had expressed many concerns over the number of troops, the lack of transports, supplies, and reinforcements, the lack of guns and even the lack of administrative officers to plan the offensive.

But by the 25 April, 2015 there was no turning back and the ANZAC legend began as the first troops leaped from their boats onto the shingled shores of Ari Burnu, on the Turkish Peninsula …

Account of ANZAC Landing by Ernest Herrod

‘First to Fall’, the ANZAC Landing, 25 April 1915

7-25 April Parramatta City Council ANZAC activities

PARRAMATTA ANZAC SOLDIERS AND NURSES

On 25 April 1915, the Allied assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey began under the guidance of the Commander in Chief, Sir Ian Hamilton. The landing was divided into three assaults: the main one at the tip of the peninsula involved the British troops, a second...

7767 Driver George Richerby Mallinson, copy from Parramatta Soldiers, Cumberland Argus, 1920 Driver Mallinson was born at Trongate Street, Granville, New South Wales. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Mallinson and his elder brother Private James Edward...

Private Henry James Robinson was a 30 year old Locomotive Fireman from Cowper Street, Granville. He was married to Mrs Catherine Mary Robinson and was the father of Kathleen Mary Robinson and John Henry Robinson. He enlisted on 13 July 1915 and was assigned to the 30...

6792 Private James Edward Mallinson, copy from Parramatta Soldiers, Cumberland Argus, 1920 Private Mallinson was the second youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Mallinson of William Street, Granville, New South Wales. Prior to enlistment he was an engineer at Clyde...

Private Alfred George Jessop was born in Parramatta. According to the Cumberland Argus he attended Pitt Row School, now Parramatta West Public School. However, his place of association at the time of his enlistment was Tweed Heads near Murwillumbah in New South...

Victor was the eldest son of Mrs J. Brinkman of Guidlford New South Wales (Myrtle Cottage, Albert Parade, and later "Le Roy" Calliope Street). He was born in Cabramatta and was a Railway Porter when he joined the forces on 7 May 1915 at 22 years of age. He served with...

Private Wallace McKenzie was a 20 year old shipwright from Sydney. He was the son of Mr J McKenzie and Mrs Jane McKenzie from Granville, New South Wales. He and his family were part of the Church of England. He enlisted on 17 August 1914. He was appointed as Corporal...

An electrician by trade, Walter Lawrence Murray aged 19 years, was living with his parents Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Murray in Phillip Street, Parramatta when he enlisted at Randwick, New South Wales on 17 August 1914. At this time, he was already a Private serving with the...

Trooper Merza Tucker Jeffery (known as Bob) enlisted on 5 March 1917 at the age of eighteen. He was single and his occupation was recorded as clerk. He named his father Harold as his next of kin. They lived in Harris Street, Granville. He embarked for service...

Private William Francis Walton was a 29 year old journalist living in Emmaville, New South Wales. Commonly known as either "Will" or "Billy", he was the son of Mr William James Walton, one time owner of the Narrabri "Age" newspaper and former alderman of Narrabri, and...

Private Horace Frederick Robinson was a 19 year old clerk from "Roslyn", Cowper Street Granville. He was born in Kent, England, to John Robinson, and was the younger brother of Henry James Robinson. He enlisted on 20 July 1915 and was assigned to 30 Infantry...

Private William Hugh Robertson was a 22 year old grocer from Wilson Street, Wollongong, New South Wales, when he enlisted. He was born in Nowra and enlisted in Liverpool. He was the son of Mr John Robertson and Mrs Jessie Johnson Wallace. He had two brothers who were...

Private William Lawrence McKay was a 22 year old laborer from the Parramatta branch of the Australian Gas-Light Company. He and his family lived in Cleveland Street, Sydney. He was single and a Roman Catholic. He was the son of Mr H McKay and Mrs Margaret McKay. He...

William was the son of G.D. Fisk of Guildford, New South Wales. He was born in Inverell, New South Wales and was a 24 year old shop assistant when he joined the forces on 22 March 1915. He married Miss Ella Virtue (also of Guildford) on 8th April 2015 prior to...

Sapper (military engineer) Albert William Jarman was born in Kent, England and was a shipwright by trade. He was married to Linda Maude Jarman and they lived in Wentworth Street, Harris Park Parramatta. They had two children. Sapper Alfred William Jarman enlisted to...

Sergeant Athol William McKinnon was a 31 year old school teacher living in Port Macquarie. His sister was Mrs Annie Perry of Baulkham Hills, New South Wales. His parents died when he was a child, and he was subsequently raised by his sister. He enlisted on 22 August...

Private Stanley James McIntosh was a 24 year old carter from Armadale New South Wales. He was the son of Mr and Mrs J. McIntosh of Parramatta. He enlisted under the name of Stanley James Yule, so that his parents wouldn't know he had enlisted. He named his cousin Miss...

Allan was the son of Geo. Colquhoun of Guildford and nephew of Mr and Mrs Andrew Colquhoun of Belmont Street, Loftus Park, New South Wales. He was a saddler, born in Glebe, New South Wales and was 18 years and 4 months when he joined the forces on 11 November 1915. He...

Sergeant John Jeffery, a labourer, enlisted on 24 August 1915 at the age of twenty one. He came from the Hunter's Hill area. He named his wife Marion as his next of kin. At the time of his enlistment, he and his wife were living with her parents in Dixon Street,...

Elmore was the son of Mrs Maude Gane of Guildford (Calliope Street), New South Wales, who was a 20 year old Telephonist when he joined the forces on 31 May 1916. He was serving with the 20th Infantry A.M.F. Unit at time of enrollment and was assigned immediately to...

Walter was the son of Sidney Williams of Smithfield (Poland Street), New South Wales. He was born in Smithfield and was working as a Storeman, aged 23, when he joined the forces on 12 December 1915. He trained in England with the 36th Infantry Battalion before...

Private Walter McLaren was a 22 year old labourer from Earley Street Parramatta. He was married to Alma McLaren. He enlisted on 17 August 1915. He embarked with his unit from Sydney aboard the HMAT Medic A7 on 30 December 1915. He was wounded in action, with a shell...

Private Alfred Maxwell Lawn, copy from Parramatta Soldiers, Cumberland Argus, 1920 Alfred, a brother to Herbert (service number 1978) and Horace (service number 2892), enlisted in the 20 Infantry Battalion on 30 June 1917. His service number was 3341. At the time, he...

Henry was the son of Anna Brodie of Smithfield (Victoria Street), New South Wales. He was a farmer born in Blayney, New South Wales and was 25 when he joined the forces on 13 December 1915. He served with the 18th Infantry Battalion in France from April 1917 and was...

John (also referred to as Maxwell John Berney in some war service correspondence) was the second son of Luc (Louis) Bernasconi of Jersey Street, Guildford New South Wales. He was born in Sydney and was a Fettler on the Great Western Railway in the mountains before he...

Private Francis Bede Kennedy, copy from Parramatta Soldiers, Cumberland Argus, 1920 Francis Bede Kennedy or ‘Ken’ to his friends enlisted on 16 November 1917 at Parramatta. He was 27 years old bachelor when he joined the Australian Forces. His service number was 7772....

Victor was the eldest son of Mrs J. Brinkman of Guildford New South Wales (Myrtle Cottage, Albert Parade, and later ʺLe Royʺ Calliope Street). He was born in Cabramatta and was a Railway Porter when he joined the forces on 7 May 1915 at 22 years of age. He served with...